Best of
France

2014

My Paris Kitchen: Recipes and Stories


David Lebovitz - 2014
    In that time, the culinary culture of France has shifted as a new generation of chefs and home cooks—most notably in Paris—incorporates ingredients and techniques from around the world into traditional French dishes.      In My Paris Kitchen, David remasters the classics, introduces lesser-known fare, and presents 100 sweet and savory recipes that reflect the way modern Parisians eat today. You’ll find Soupe à l’oignon, Cassoulet, Coq au vin, and Croque-monsieur, as well as Smoky barbecue-style pork, Lamb shank tagine, Dukkah-roasted cauliflower, Salt cod fritters with tartar sauce, and Wheat berry salad with radicchio, root vegetables, and pomegranate. And of course, there’s dessert: Warm chocolate cake with salted butter caramel sauce, Duck fat cookies, Bay leaf poundcake with orange glaze, French cheesecake...and the list goes on. David also shares stories told with his trademark wit and humor, and lush photography taken on location around Paris and in David’s kitchen reveals the quirks, trials, beauty, and joys of life in the culinary capital of the world.

Rosie and Ruby


Patricia Dixon - 2014
    Rosie And Ruby is an unmissable and heart-warming novel which will appeal to fans of authors like Amanda Prowse, Diane Chamberlain and Lucy Diamond.

Napoleon: A Life


Andrew Roberts - 2014
    Like George Washington and his own hero Julius Caesar, he was one of the greatest soldier-statesmen of all times. Andrew Roberts’s Napoleon is the first one-volume biography to take advantage of the recent publication of Napoleon’s thirty-three thousand letters, which radically transform our understanding of his character and motivation. At last we see him as he was: protean multitasker, decisive, surprisingly willing to forgive his enemies and his errant wife Josephine. Like Churchill, he understood the strategic importance of telling his own story, and his memoirs, dictated from exile on St. Helena, became the single bestselling book of the nineteenth century. An award-winning historian, Roberts traveled to fifty-three of Napoleon’s sixty battle sites, discovered crucial new documents in archives, and even made the long trip by boat to St. Helena. He is as acute in his understanding of politics as he is of military history. Here at last is a biography worthy of its subject: magisterial, insightful, beautifully written, by one of our foremost historians.

Chateau of Secrets


Melanie Dobson - 2014
    Gisèle Duchant guards a secret that could cost her life. Tunnels snake through the hill under her family’s medieval chateau in Normandy. Now, with Hitler’s army bearing down, her brother and several friends are hiding in the tunnels, resisting the German occupation of France.But when German soldiers take over the family’s château, Gisèle is forced to host them as well—while harboring the resistance fighters right below their feet. Taking in a Jewish friend’s baby, she convinces the Nazis that it is her child, ultimately risking everything for the future of the child. When the German officers begin to suspect her deception, an unlikely hero rescues both her and the child.A present day story weaves through the past one as Chloe Sauver, Gisèle’s granddaughter, arrives in Normandy. After calling off her engagement with a political candidate, Chloe pays a visit to the chateau to escape publicity and work with a documentary filmmaker, Riley, who has uncovered a fascinating story about Jews serving in Hitler’s army. Riley wants to research Chloe’s family history and the lives that were saved in the tunnels under their house in Normandy. Chloe is floored—her family isn’t Jewish, for one thing, and she doesn’t know anything about tunnels or the history of the house. But as she begins to explore the dark and winding passageways beneath the chateau, nothing can prepare her for the shock of what she and Riley discover…

A Little in Love


Susan Fletcher - 2014
    When at sixteen the girls' paths cross again and their circumstances are reversed, Eponine must decide what that friendship is worth, even though they've both fallen for the same boy. In the end, Eponine will sacrifice everything to keep true love alive.

A Kitchen in France: A Year of Cooking in My Farmhouse


Mimi Thorisson - 2014
    She found wonderful ingredients—from local farmers and the neighboring woods—and, most important, time to cook. Her cookbook chronicles the family’s seasonal meals and life in an old farmhouse, all photographed by her husband, Oddur. Mimi’s convivial recipes—such as Roast Chicken with Herbs and Crème Fraîche, Cèpe and Parsley Tartlets, Winter Vegetable Cocotte, Apple Tart with Orange Flower Water, and Salted Butter Crème Caramel—will bring the warmth of rural France into your home.

Brainwashed


Paul Aertker - 2014
    Brainwashed (Crime Travelers #1) tracks the secret urban adventures of the New Resistance, a network of international teenage spies. Headquartered in Las Vegas’s posh Globe Hotel, the New Resistance sends its Tier One kids to Paris on its biggest mission to date. Lucas leads a group of friends through the hotspots of Paris—from the catacombs to the Eiffel tower—in an all-out effort to sabotage a brainwashing ceremony that could potentially turn them all into “Good” kids.

A Market Tale


Martin Walker - 2014
    A Vintage eBook Original Short.      Between the seventeenth-century mairie and the stone bridge over the river that winds through town, the village of St. Denis hosts its weekly market, as well-stocked with local gossip as with fresh produce and pâtés. As summer blooms, the newest talk of the town is the rapport between Kati, a Swiss tourist, and Marcel, a popular stall owner whom Kati meets over his choice strawberries. None are happier than police chief Bruno to see Marcel, a young widower, interested in love again, but as his friend’s romance deepens, Bruno senses trouble in the form of Marcel’s meddlesome sister Nadette. Even as Kati begins to put down roots in St. Denis, vending her delicious baking in the market, it seems the overbearing Nadette will stop at nothing to make her feel unwelcome. When her schemes reach the limits of law, Bruno takes it upon himself to set things right.

Proud of You


Mary Wood - 2014
    Together they discover that they have a connection to the same man, Ralph D'Olivier, and vow to unravel the mystery of his death.After narrowly escaping capture by the Germans, Alice is lifted out of France and taken to a hospital for wounded officers where she meets Lil, a working-class northern girl, working as a nurse. Though worlds apart, Alice and Lil form a friendship, and Alice discovers Lil is also linked to Ralph D'Olivier.Soon, the war irrevocably changes each of these women and they are thrust into a world of heartache and strife beyond anything they have had to endure before. Can they clear Ralph's name and find a lasting love and happiness for themselves?

Lies Told In Silence


M.K. Tod - 2014
    Convinced Germany will head straight for Paris, he sends his wife, daughter, mother and younger son to Beaufort, a small village in northern France. But when war erupts two months later, the German army invades neutral Belgium, sweeping south towards Paris. And by the end of September, Beaufort is less than twenty miles from the front. During the years that follow, with the rumbling of guns ever present in the distance, three generations of women come together to cope with deprivation, fear and the dreadful impacts of war. In 1917, Helene falls in love with a young Canadian soldier wounded in the battle of Vimy Ridge. But war has a way of separating lovers and families, of twisting promises and dashing hopes, and of turning the naive and innocent into the jaded and war-weary. As the months pass, Helene is forced to reconcile dreams for the future with harsh reality. Lies Told in Silence examines love and loss, duty and sacrifice, and the unexpected consequences of lies.

Xavier: A British Secret Agent with the French Resistance


Richard Heslop - 2014
    

Paris Time Capsule


Ella Carey - 2014
    But when she learns that she’s inherited the estate of a complete stranger—a woman named Isabelle de Florian—her life is turned upside down.Cat arrives in Paris to find that she is now the owner of a perfectly preserved Belle Époque apartment in the ninth arrondissement, and that the Frenchwoman’s family knew nothing about this secret estate. Amid these strange developments, Cat is left with burning questions: Who was Isabelle de Florian? And why did she leave the inheritance to Cat instead of her own family?As Cat travels France in search of answers, she feels her grasp on her New York life starting to slip. With long-buried secrets coming to light and an attraction to Isabelle de Florian’s grandson growing too intense to ignore, Cat will have to decide what to let go of, and what to claim as her own.

Letting Go: A true story of murder, loss and survival by Rachel Nickell’s son


Alex Hanscombe - 2014
    A coming-of-age story that begins with a tragedy but ends in optimism, forgiveness and peace.On a beautiful July morning in 1992, just three weeks before his third birthday, Alex Hanscombe and his young mother, Rachel Nickell, went walking on Wimbledon Common. Life was never the same again. Shortly after ten o’clock that morning, Alex was discovered by the side of his mother’s body – she had been assaulted, stabbed forty-nine times in a frenzied attack, and left dead. Alex was the only witness to the attack.Letting Go is Alex’s heartbreaking account of that morning, the aftermath, and the devastating effect on his father, the extended family and the wider community. Alex tells the story of the resulting media storm, the legal cases following and the peace and understanding that he has now found, as a young man. In telling his story, and the truth, this is the last stage of Alex’s incredible journey to letting go.

You Had me at Bonjour


Jennifer Bohnet - 2014
    But one year – and one very messy divorce – later, she’s not so sure. Which is how she found herself boarding a plane to the south of France, determined to put her past behind her… preferably via some deliciously chilled rosé.Meeting a new man was never part of the plan. Yet when she meets Nino, her new neighbour’s impossibly sexy nephew, steering clear of romance seems easier said than done. Suddenly, Jessica finds herself right back where she started: with her heart on the line. But now she’s made a new start, perhaps it’s time for Jessica to throw caution to the wind, take a few risks… and learn to regrette rien!

A Walk in Paris


Salvatore Rubbino - 2014
    Follow them as they climb to the top of Notre Dame — formidable! — sample tasty treats at bistros and pâtisseries — délicieux! — and take in a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower — magnifique! Young Francophiles and armchair travelers will be charmed by Salvatore Rubbino’s lively, sophisticated llustrations and fascinating trivia about this beloved city.

A Week in Paris


Rachel Hore - 2014
    Though she has seen a photograph of her father, she does not recall him either. He died, she was told, in an air raid, and their house destroyed along with all their possessions. Why then, on a visit to Paris on tour with her orchestra, does a strange series of events suggest that she spent the war there instead? There is only one clue to follow, an address on the luggage label of an old canvas satchel. But will the truth hurt or heal? 1937: Eugene Knox, a young American doctor, catches sight of 19-year-old Kitty Travers on the day she arrives in Paris, and cannot get her out of his mind. She has come to study the piano at the famed Conservatoire, and lodges at a convent near Notre Dame. Eugene and Kitty will fall in love, marry and have a daughter, but France's humiliating defeat by Germany is not far behind, and the little family must suffer life under Nazi occupation. Some Parisians keep their heads down and survive, others collaborate with the enemy while others resist. The different actions of Eugene, Kitty and their friends will have devastating consequences that echo down the generations.

Seasons of the Moon


Julien Aranda - 2014
    One fateful day, Paul’s life is spared by a compassionate German soldier with eyes as blue as the sea. When Paul’s village is liberated, an angry mob turns against their occupiers. The German soldier, near death, asks Paul to promise him one thing: find his daughter and tell her that her father loved her.As Paul becomes a man, he fulfills his childhood dream of sailing the world, even as twists of fate steer his life in unexpected directions. But through it all, Paul never forgets his promise.Beautifully moving and deeply profound, Seasons of the Moon evokes a sense of wonder at the mystery of human connection and the powerful ripple effects of kindness.

Saving Mona Lisa: The Battle to Protect the Louvre and Its Treasures During World War II


Gerri Chanel - 2014
    Thus began the biggest evacuation of art and antiques in history. A small army of workers swiftly emptied the Louvre's cavernous galleries of all but the most cumbersome and fragile pieces and tucked away the displaced treasures in the châteaux of the Loire countryside. As the Germans neared Paris in 1940, the French raced to move the masterpieces still further south, then again and again during the war, crisscrossing the southwest of France. Throughout the German occupation, the Louvre's staff fought to keep the priceless treasures out of the hands of Hitler and his henchmen and to keep the Louvre palace safe, many of them risking their jobs and their lives to protect the country's artistic heritage. Saving Mona Lisa is the sweeping, suspenseful narrative of their battle. Superbly researched and accompanied by riveting photographs of the period, it is a compelling story of art and beauty, intrigue and ingenuity, and remarkable moral courage in the face of one of the most fearful enemies in history.

Winter Mythologies and Abbots


Pierre Michon - 2014
    Populated by distant and little-known figures—Irish and French monks, saints, and scientists in Winter Mythologies; Benedictine monks in the Vendée region of France in Abbots—the tales frequently draw on obscure histories and other literary sources.Michon brings his characters to life in spare, evocative prose. Each, in his or her own way, exemplifies a power of belief that brings about an achievement—or catastrophe—in the real world: monasteries are built upon impossibly muddy wastes, monks acquire the power of speech, lives are taken, books are written, saints are created on the flimsiest of evidence. Michon’s exploration in ancient archives has led him to the discovery of such often deluded figures and their deeds, and his own exceptional powers bestow upon them a renewed life on the written page. This in turn is an example of the power of belief, which for Michon is what makes literature itself possible. Winter Mythologies and Abbots are meant to be read slowly, to be savored, to be mined for the secrets Michon has to tell.

Confessions of a Paris Potty Trainer


Vicki Lesage - 2014
    In this riotous memoir, author Vicki Lesage shares the highs and lows of raising her family in Paris.A former party girl, Vicki has now traded wine bottles for baby bottles. If she's awake at 2 a.m. it's because of a crying baby, not a wild night out on the town. Follow her journey through pregnancy to raising two kids with her ever-patient French husband, all while trying to enjoy life in Paris.#1 Amazon Best Seller in Humor Essays

The Marquis: Lafayette Reconsidered


Laura Auricchio - 2014
    Laura Auricchio gives us a rich portrait of the man, fully revealed, a man driven by dreams of glory and felled by tragic, human weaknesses. In The Marquis, we come to understand the personal struggles, social quandaries, and idealistic visions that inspired an orphaned young man to cross an ocean and fight a war that was none of his concern; we see a guileless provincial whose unexpected inheritance allowed him to marry into the highest echelons of the French aristocracy, and become a self-consciously awkward presence at the palace of Versailles. Here is the young Lafayette, removed from the French army as a result of sweeping reforms, trapped in a gilded cage until American emissaries reached Paris seeking support for their revolution. In the American cause, Lafayette, whose only vision had been of martial glory, saw a way to reach his dreams, and seized it with gusto. Americans welcomed him with open arms, and he returned their affection fully. His American éclat was so brilliant and his enthusiasm so great that he quickly became the symbol of the Franco-American alliance that ultimately defeated Great Britain. We see how Lafayette’s reputation rose to great heights during the American Revolution but collapsed during the French; that when the Bastille fell on July 14, 1789,  Parisians hailed Lafayette as the French Washington and appointed him commander of their National Guard, hoping that he would be able to restore order to a city wracked by starvation and violence. As revolutionaries hurtled in radical directions and staunch monarchists dug in their heels, Lafayette lost control, remaining steadfast in his belief that the French monarchy needed to be reformed but not abolished, and doing everything in his power to prevent an American-style republic from taking root in his native land. Formerly seen as France’s heroic figure, Lafayette was now viewed as opportunistic, a dreamer, and a traitor to his nation--and today remains a murky figure in French memory.In America, Lafayette’s momentous departure from his homeland for the War of Independence has long been hailed as the start of an extraordinary career to be celebrated for generations. In France, it is often seen as just one of his many misbegotten undertakings. Yet no one has managed to offer a satisfactory answer to the crucial question of why: Why did Americans shower Lafayette with so much acclaim in his own time that he remains a hero today, being named an honorary U.S. citizen in 2002—becoming only the seventh person ever granted this distinction? And why, in contrast, does his memory continue to be denigrated in his own land?Auricchio, drawing on substantial new research conducted in libraries, archives, museums, and private homes in France and the United States, gives us history on a grand scale as she answers these crucial questions, revealing the man and his complex life, and challenging and exploring the complicated myths that have surrounded his name for more than two centuries.

The Keys of the Watchmen


Kathleen C. Perrin - 2014
    Once there, she is confused when she experiences sensations of déjà vu as she and her younger brother explore the medieval village and abbey. She is even more disturbed when she is confronted by two unusual young men, one who insists she has a sacred mission, and the other who will stop at nothing, even murder, to prevent her from fulfilling her destiny. When the oddly-dressed but alluring Nicolas slips Katelyn a strange medallion, she is whisked back through time where her Watchmen hosts tell her she is the only hope to save Mont Saint Michel. Even worse, she learns that those trying to destroy the mount are led by a fallen angel intent on learning the mount's closely-guarded secret. Katelyn is torn by feelings of anger at being taken back in time, inadequacy at finding a modern solution for a medieval problem, and responsibility for the mount’s starving inhabitants. She is also perturbed by her surprising attraction to the ill-tempered Nicolas. Will she stay to learn why she was chosen by the Archangel Michael and find a way to save his mount?

Fashion Victims: Dress at the Court of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette


Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell - 2014
    Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell offers a carefully researched glimpse into the turbulent era’s sophisticated and largely female-dominated fashion industry, which produced courtly finery as well as promoted a thriving secondhand clothing market outside the royal circle. She discusses in depth the exceptionally imaginative and uninhibited styles of the period immediately before the French Revolution, and also explores fashion’s surprising influence on the course of the Revolution itself. The absorbing narrative demonstrates fashion’s crucial role as a visible and versatile medium for social commentary, and shows the glittering surface of 18th-century high society as well as its seedy underbelly.  Fashion Victims presents a compelling anthology of trends, manners, and personalities from the era, accompanied by gorgeous fashion plates, portraits, and photographs of rare surviving garments. Drawing upon documentary evidence, previously unpublished archival sources, and new information about aristocrats, politicians, and celebrities, this book is an unmatched study of French fashion in the late 18th century, providing astonishing insight, a gripping story, and stylish inspiration.

Mission Paris


Catherine Aragón - 2014
    Instead, say 'bonjour!' to a memorable family vacation. Imagine - your kids will be excited to sightsee (yes, even at museums!) as you discover the wonders of Paris as a family.Get Mission Paris today for your young jet-setters...and make sure it's in their bag when they take off for France!Mission Paris offers a fun vacation for everyone - with a captivating, spy-theme scavenger hunt packed with entertaining activities. When your kids set off on their mission, with the goal of earning enough points to become a special agent, they'll gain points as:-Art Sleuths: They'll search for clues in the treasures of the Louvre and Mus�e d' Orsay.-Culture Detectives: They'll discover the fascinating stories behind landmarks like the Eiffel Towerand Ch�teau de Vincennes, practice a bit of fran�ais (French), and sample sweet treats atboulangeries (bakeries).-Monument Investigators: They'll uncover clues on the fa�ade of Notre Dame, the stained glass ofSainte Chapelle, the mosaics of Sacr� Coeur, and the statues of Luxembourg Gardens...and many more engaging activities.Experiencing the French capital is an amazing opportunity for anyone, especially a young person. Make your kids' trip one to remember. Get Mission Paris today for your young explorers...and be sure it's in their suitcase when they set off for Paris!Our series also includes books for London, Rome, Florence, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Washington, D.C., New York, and St. Augustine.

Madame Martine


Sarah S. Brannen - 2014
    She takes for granted the beautiful things that exist all around her. She refuses to go to the Eiffel Tower because it's "just for tourists." One day Madame Martine finds a stray dog and decides to take him home. When she tries keeping her dog on the same schedule, he breaks free, leading Madame Martine on a wild chase up the Eiffel Tower! Upon reaching the top, she discovers how much beauty she has been missing all these years. From then on, the two friends try something different every week.

The Paris Journal: Book One


Nichole Robertson - 2014
    Accompanied only by her endless enthusiasm and vivid imagination, she surrenders to every whim and lets her love of the city – not a map – guide the way. She extols the virtues of small ice cream portions, debates public makeout sessions with the King of France, tails a mysterious elderly lady into a church and scarfs cheese. But whether she’s racing a dinner boat or running from flower pimps, one thing is clear: Her heart belongs to Paris. This exhilarating diary of a day in the City of Light combines 17 journal entries with over 140 sumptuous photos that bring the city, its people, and apparently its former kings to life.

Napoleon: Soldier of Destiny


Michael Broers - 2014
    All previous lives of Napoleon have relied more on the memoirs of others than on his own uncensored words.Michael Broers' biography draws on the thoughts of Napoleon himself as his incomparable life unfolded. It reveals a man of intense emotion, but also of iron self-discipline; of acute intelligence and immeasurable energy. Tracing his life from its dangerous Corsican roots, through his rejection of his early identity, and the dangerous military encounters of his early career, it tells the story of the sheer determination, ruthlessness, and careful calculation that won him the precarious mastery of Europe by 1807. After the epic battles of Austerlitz, Jena and Friedland, France was the dominant land power on the continent.Here is the first biography of Napoleon in which this brilliant, violent leader is evoked to give the reader a full, dramatic, and all-encompassing portrait.

D-Day Through French Eyes: Normandy 1944


Mary Louise Roberts - 2014
       Silent parachutes dotting the night sky—that’s how one woman in Normandy in June 1944 learned that the D-Day invasion was underway. Though they yearned for liberation, the people of Normandy steeled themselves for further warfare, knowing that their homes, land, and fellow citizens would have to bear the brunt of the attack. In D-Day through French Eyes, Mary Louise Roberts resets our view of the usual stories of that momentous operation, taking readers across the Channel to view the invasion anew. Roberts builds her history from an impressive range of gripping first-person accounts from French citizens, reinvigorating a story we thought we knew. The result is a fresh perspective on the heroism, sacrifice, and achievement of D-Day.

Madame Picasso


Anne Girard - 2014
    When Eva Gouel moves to Paris from the countryside, she is full of ambition and dreams of stardom. Though young and inexperienced, she manages to find work as a costumer at the famous Moulin Rouge, and it is here that she first catches the attention of Pablo Picasso, a rising star in the art world.A brilliant but eccentric artist, Picasso sets his sights on Eva, and Eva can't help but be drawn into his web. But what starts as a torrid affair soon evolves into what will become the first great love of Picasso's life. With sparkling insight and passion, Madame Picasso introduces us to a dazzling heroine, taking us from the salon of Gertrude Stein to the glamorous Moulin Rouge and inside the studio and heart of one of the most enigmatic and iconic artists of the twentieth century.

The Last Campaign of Marianne Tambour: A Novel of Waterloo


David Ebsworth - 2014
    His description of the fighting is particularly vivid and compelling.” – Andrew W. Field, author of Waterloo: The French Perspective and its companion volume, Prelude to Waterloo: Quatre BrasPraise for David Ebsworth’s novel, The Jacobites’ Apprentice, critically reviewed by the Historical Novel Society, who deemed it “worthy of a place on every historical fiction bookshelf” and named it as a Finalist in the Society’s 2014 Indie Award.Each of David Ebsworth’s novels has been awarded the coveted B.R.A.G. Medallion by the worldwide Book Readers Appreciation Group.

The Upside of Down: A Memoir


Susan Biggar - 2014
    Maybe as an American, she saw Darryl as a ticket to an exhilarating, global life. When her first son arrived, he came with fierce blue eyes, a curly toe and cystic fibrosis. The doctors said he would be lucky to reach the age of thirty. A job offer in Paris snatched the family from New Zealand, depositing them in the city of lights, romance—and a whole new medical world. When Susan’s second baby was also born with cystic fibrosis , the insignificant worries of her old life slipped away, shifting her from ‘normal mum’ to ‘gotta-figure-out-how-to-keep-thekids-alive-mum’. This—and all that followed—was not what she expected. Set across the globe—in California, New Zealand, France and Australia—The Upside of Down is a story of belief, of learning that sometimes joy is a decision.‘A rare combination of laugh-out-loud humour and an intensely honest exploration of difficult issues … It’s like Eat, Pray, Love but with children, a husband and health issues along for the ride! Anyone who has ever experienced illness in their family or considered an expatriate life will want to read this book.’ — ANDREA J. MILLER, Shares in Life Foundation, NZ

Waterloo: Myth and Reality


Gareth Glover - 2014
    However, the lethal combination of national bias, wilful distortion and simple error has unfortunately led to the constantly regurgitated traditional 'accepted' version being significantly wrong regarding many episodes. Based on extensive primary research of all the nations involved, Gareth Glover provides a very readable and balanced account of the entire campaign while challenging these distorted claims and myths, and he provides clear evidence to back his version of events.

Winter Flowers


Angélique Villeneuve - 2014
    He is not coming back from the front line but from the department for facial injuries at Val-de-Grâce military hospital, where he has spent the last two years.For Jeanne, who has struggled to endure his absence and the hardships of wartime, her husband’s return marks the beginning of a new battle. With the promise of peace now in sight, the family must try to stitch together a new life from the tatters of what they had before.

A Christmas Wedding


Julia Stagg - 2014
    And on top of that, Fabian wants to know what love is . . . He has last-minute jitters which everyone, bar Stephanie, is well aware of.With only days to go, the Pyrenean mountain community must pull together if the festive nuptials are to go ahead. It's all set to be a Christmas they'll never forget . . .

Spectacular Paris


William Scheller - 2014
    In this celebration and photographic portrait, Spectacular Paris brings the best of this awe-inspiring city into sharp focus, capturing the unending beauty, lure, culture, and magnificence of this unique city. Paris is home to some of the world's greatest landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, and the Pantheon. There is hardly any corner in Paris where you are not confronted with beauty and decor: it is layered with architectural history and culture, and has magnificently decorated buildings of royal, religious, and secular purpose at every turn and corner. Ancient, Gothic, Renaissance, baroque, and modern architecture meld together in a city laid out upon the banks of the Seine. This is the perfect book for those who have been captured by the romance and beauty of Paris.

The French Intifada: The Long War Between France and Its Arabs


Andrew Hussey - 2014
    As much as unemployment, economic stagnation, and social deprivation exacerbate the ongoing turmoil in the banlieues, the root of the problem lies elsewhere: in the continuing fallout from Europe's colonial era. Combining a fascinating and compulsively readable mix of history, literature, and politics with his years of personal experience visiting the banlieues and countries across the Arab world, especially Algeria, Hussey attempts to make sense of the present situation. In the course of teasing out the myriad interconnections between past and present in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Beirut, and Western Europe, The French Intifada shows that the defining conflict of the twenty-first century will not be between Islam and the West but between two dramatically different experiences of the world—the colonizers and the colonized.

A Long Way from Paris


E.C. Murray - 2014
    Far from her younger life as a New England preppie and Oregon hippie, the challenges of farm work daunt her. She befriends an Australian shepherd, reflects on her spirituality, and muses on the man she left behind. As she grows stronger, Elizabeth faces her self-doubt while maintaining her humor, eking fun wherever she can. When tragedy strikes Elizabeth's adopted family, she summons belief in herself and becomes the leader they desperately need.

Europe on Trial: The Story of Collaboration, Resistance, and Retribution during World War II


István Deák - 2014
    These three themes are examined through the experiences of people and countries under German occupation, as well as Soviet, Italian, and other military rule. Those under foreign rule faced innumerable moral and ethical dilemmas, including the question of whether to cooperate with their occupiers, try to survive the war without any political involvement, or risk their lives by becoming resisters. Many chose all three, depending on wartime conditions. Following the brutal war, the author discusses the purges of real or alleged war criminals and collaborators, through various acts of violence, deportations, and judicial proceedings at the Nuremberg International Military Tribunal as well as in thousands of local courts. Europe on Trial helps us to understand the many moral consequences both during and immediately following World War II.Foreword by Norman M. Naimark

The Dreams of Kings


David K. Saunders - 2014
    Richard, Duke of Gloucester, the future Richard III, arrives, aged twelve, for the safety of Middleham Castle to begin his training for knighthood. His new companions discover he can change from kindness to cold rage within the wink of an eye. Men, it was said, watched him with wary eyes, for they knew when the young pup found his teeth, he would make a dangerous enemy. Far in the north, Margaret of Anjou, warrior Queen to Henry VI, prepares to fight against the advancing armies of Edward IV. Why does she abandon her husband, and flee to France vowing never to return? Who blackmails her, seven years later, to join forces with her most hated enemy, to return and fight once again for the crown of England? King Edward IV, tall, handsome, and clever, is a brilliant warrior, whose Achilles' heel is women; he loves them all. What dark forces drive him into a secret marriage that rips his kingdom apart? He is forced to fight Louis XI of France, and the mighty Earl of Warwick, not only for his crown but also his life. From the courts of Edward IV, Louis XI, and Margaret of Anjou, comes intrigue, betrayal, witchcraft, and love. The Dreams of Kings weaves plots and characters together to make a roller-coaster read of the period they call the WAR of the ROSES.

100 Places in France Every Woman Should Go


Marcia DeSanctis - 2014
    Like all great travel writing, this volume goes beyond the guidebook and offers insight not only about where to go but why to go there. Combining advice, memoir and meditations on the glories of traveling through France, this book is the must-have in your carry-on.Award-winning writer Marcia DeSanctis draws on years of travels and living in France to lead you through vineyards, architectural treasures, fabled gardens and contemplative hikes from Biarritz to Deauville, Antibes to the French Alps. These 100 entries capture art, history, food, fresh air and style and along the way, she tells the stories of fascinating women who changed the country’s destiny. Ride a white horse in the Camargue, find Paris’s hidden museums, try thalassotherapy in St. Malo, and buy raspberries at Nice’s Cour Saleya market. From sexy to literary, spiritual to simply gorgeous, 100 Places in France Every Woman Should Go is an indispensable companion for the smart and curious traveler to France.

Edible French: Tasty Expressions and Cultural Bites


Clotilde Dusoulier - 2014
    In this delightful book, Clotilde Dusoulier, creator of the award-winning food blog Chocolate & Zucchini, delves into the history and meaning of fifty of the French language’s most popular food-related expressions.Accompanied by beautiful watercolor illustrations by artist Mélina Josserand, Edible French explores whimsical turns of phrase such as:Tomber dans les pommes (falling into the apples) = faintingSe faire rouler dans la farine (being rolled in flour) = being fooledAvoir un cœur d’artichaut (having the heart of an artichoke) = falling in love easilyA treat of a read for Francophiles and food lovers alike, Edible French is the tastiest way to explore French culture—one that will leave you in high spirits—or, as the French say, vous donnera la pêche (give you the peach).

Flirting with French: How a Language Charmed Me, Seduced Me, and Nearly Broke My Heart


William Alexander - 2014
    Voila!” —Mark Greenside, author of I’ll Never Be French (No Matter What I Do) William Alexander is more than a Francophile. He wants to be French. There’s one small obstacle though: he doesn’t speak la langue française. In Flirting with French, Alexander sets out to conquer the language he loves. But will it love him back? Alexander eats, breathes, and sleeps French (even conjugating in his dreams). He travels to France, where mistranslations send him bicycling off in all sorts of wrong directions, and he nearly drowns in an immersion class in Provence, where, faced with the riddle of masculine breasts, feminine beards, and a turkey cutlet of uncertain gender, he starts to wonder whether he should’ve taken up golf instead of French. While playing hooky from grammar lessons and memory techniques, Alexander reports on the riotous workings of the Académie française, the four-hundred-year-old institution charged with keeping the language pure; explores the science of human communication, learning why it’s harder for fifty-year-olds to learn a second language than it is for five-year-olds; and, frustrated with his progress, explores an IBM research lab, where he trades barbs with a futuristic hand-held translator. Does he succeed in becoming fluent? Readers will be as surprised as Alexander is to discover that, in a fascinating twist, studying French may have had a far greater impact on his life than actually learning to speak it ever would. “A blend of passion and neuroscience, this literary love affair offers surprise insights into the human brain and the benefits of learning a second language. Reading William Alexander’s book is akin to having an MRI of the soul.” —Laura Shaine Cunningham, author of Sleeping Arrangements   “Alexander proves that learning a new language is an adventure of its own--with all the unexpected obstacles, surprising breakthroughs and moments of sublime pleasure traveling brings.” —Julie Barlow, author of Sixty Million Frenchmen Can’t Be Wrong

C'est la Vie!: The Wonderful World of Jean-Jacques Sempé


Jean-Jacques Sempé - 2014
    The most extensive collection of cartoons by one of the world's best-loved illustrators.

French Revolutions For Beginners


Michael J. LaMonica - 2014
    Through the violence of the Revolutions the reign of the Bourbon monarchy came to an end and modern France was born.French Revolutions For Beginners examines the several bloody revolutions and counter-revolutions throughout the course of the 19th century and the constant upheavals and disruptions in France's ever changing political landscape from 1789-1900. While most people have some familiarity with names like Louis XVI and Napoleon, the details of what exactly happened during the French Revolution--apart from pithy royal pronouncements about cake eating and the ever-falling blade of the guillotine--are often difficult to understand, and for good reason: there were 15 changes of government in less than a century! The legacy of the French Revolutions remains with us today; we see it all over the world when an oppressed people rise up against an authoritarian regime demanding their rights as citizens be recognized.French Revolutions For Beginners presents the major political figures, events and hot-button political issues of this extremely violent, chaotic, confusing--but exciting--period in a way that is accessible, interesting, and fun to both history buffs and the neophyte alike.

Tiptop Cat


C. Roger Mader - 2014
    How this cat bounces back will encourage readers everywhere to try, try again. Eye-catching art and crisp graphic paneling invite even the youngest of children to get back on their feet to explore the city alongside TipTop Cat.

First French Essais: Venturing into Writing, Marriage, and France


Kristin Espinasse - 2014
    From quitting her first stable job (as a glorified janitor) near St. Tropez, to dusting off her dream of writing, Kristin pursues 'la vie en rose' only to discover that reality is... muddy! There are no clear instructions on how to behave in France.In this book of colorful photos and tender essays, Kristin shows us how she overcomes these cultural "tests", always finishing with an "A" for amour de la vie!

C'est Modnifique!: Adventures of an English Grump in Rural France


Ian Moore - 2014
    Their grand project, a writing school called Les Champs Créatifs, is finally complete – only, nobody’s signed up. Natalie and the boys must contend with the ever-colourful locals, including a Sicilian faith healer, threatening hunters and the ‘Christmas Pudding Man’, and Ian must test his mod mettle against two new additions to the animal family – a pair of disappearing goats. With stresses, strains and animal poo mounting up la famille Moore have their work cut out – but they’re determined to give it their best shot!

The Last Confession of The Vampire Judas Iscariot


David B. Vermont - 2014
    Or maybe not. After watching the crucifixion of Jesus, Judas despairs over what he has done and fumes that the Messiah he put his trust in has turned out to be just another pretender like all the rest. The toxic mix of emotions is too much for him to bear and Judas commits suicide by hanging himself. He is restored to life by the Devil and made into a vampire apostle. The Devil teaches Judas to manipulate men and history. He becomes a king, a general, a teacher and a blacksmith, whatever is needed to effect the outcome of history and move it towards the goal of his new master. Each time he is ready to move on to his next incarnation he must drink the blood of an innocent victim to be restored to his youthful vigor. But despite his many powers and abilities Judas knows there is one thing he desires and cannot have. Finally Judas meets a laicized priest, Raymond Breviary, and tries to steal from him what he was denied two thousand years before.

A Way: The story of a long walk


Jenna Smith - 2014
    It tells of the people met (the quirky ones, the lost ones, the kind and unforgettable ones), the physical discomforts endured (and oh, how many there were) and of the road travelled (all 1065 miles of it). It reveals how a sacred pilgrimage can bring about the most unsacred of experiences. It is a memoir, intertwined with reflections from the walking and lessons learned on the road about time, about the body, and about community. But most of all, it's a story. The story of a long walk.

The French Army and the First World War


Elizabeth Greenhalgh - 2014
    Elizabeth Greenhalgh revises our understanding not only of wartime strategy and fighting, but also of other crucial aspects of France's war, from mutinies and mail censorship to medical services, railways and weapons development.

Everyone Loves Paris


Leslie Jonath - 2014
    Everyone Loves Paris includ....

Antibodies


Antoine D'Agata - 2014
    Containing striking images of people living on the fringes of society, Antibodies is a challenging and captivating collection from one of the most renowned photographers working today. Antoine d'Agata has traveled the world's darkest corners collecting images of prostitutes, addicts, war-torn communities, and the homeless. A nomad himself, d'Agata tackles subjects often left untouched, unnoticed, or ignored. Frequently compared to his mentors Nan Goldin and Larry Clark, d'Agata's work, for all its grim and occasionally terrifying realism, bears the hallmarks of timeless photographs. This volume features images from a number of d'Agata's series, interspersed with short texts as well as essays and commentary. Antibodies was awarded the 2013 Arles Book Prize, and is certain to become one of the most sought-after photography books of the year.

One Night in Paris: A Novella


Juliette Sobanet - 2014
    Ella would do anything for her grandmother and jumps at the chance to fulfill her dying wish. But things take a mystical turn when Ella is transported to a swinging Parisian jazz club full of alluring strangers…in the year 1927! As the clock runs out on her one night in the City of Light, Ella will attempt to rewrite the past...and perhaps her own destiny as well. What Reviewers are saying about One Night in Paris: “Fun, romantic, and magical!” “I wish that I could give this story more than five stars.” “This book is full of adventure, love, hope and a little bit of magic.” “Another fabulous book that we could not put down!” “This short story just warmed my heart!” “I keep dreaming of going to Paris with each story Juliette writes.” City of Love series: Sleeping with Paris Kissed in Paris Honeymoon in Paris A Paris Dream City of Light Series: One Night in Paris Dancing with Paris Midnight Train to Paris True Stories in the City of Love: Meet Me in Paris I Loved You in Paris Juliette Sobanet’s captivating Paris novels have reached over 500,000 readers worldwide, hitting the top 100 Bestseller Lists on Amazon US, UK, France, and Germany, becoming bestsellers in Italy and Turkey as well. Time for that romantic trip to Paris? All you have to do is grab your copy of One Night in Paris and you’ll be swept away…

Captain's French Adventures: The Laughter and Lighter Side of French House Hunting, Purchase and Renovation


Steven G. King - 2014
    Follow their progress and live through the ups and downs, tears and laughter, meeting new friends and discovering new idylls while searching for a little bit of France. Featuring cartoons, Illustrations and photographs

Naked In The Wind - Chemo, Hairloss and Deceit


S.A. Ledlie - 2014
    The memoir begins AFTER her breast cancer treatment ends and a different battle begins. It quickly becomes a mission to uncover the truth about this little known side-effect all women (and men) should know about. With unstoppable determination her conflict with a drugs company, doctors and anyone that stands in her way, continues to rage on often in her own unique unconventional style. Last but not least the struggle with herself...

The Big Adventure of a Little Line


Serge Bloch - 2014
    Putting it in his pocket, he forgets about it entirely. But the little line has other ideas . . .Enter the magical, creative world of the renowned French artist, Serge Bloch, where anything can happen, and the discovery of an ordinary little line can result in the most marvelous adventure. Coming to life, the little line becomes majestic mountains, wings to fly with, a circus full of animals, flowers, a perilous tightrope, and that’s only the beginning! With this classic story about an artist’s becoming, children will be inspired to create their own drawings, taking simple lines and transforming them into endless possibilities.

The End of Eddy


Édouard Louis - 2014
    . . Today I’m really gonna be a tough guy.” Growing up in a poor village in northern France, all Eddy Bellegueule wanted was to be a man in the eyes of his family and neighbors. But from childhood, he was different—“girlish,” intellectually precocious, and attracted to other men.Already translated into twenty languages, The End of Eddy captures the violence and desperation of life in a French factory town. It is also a sensitive, universal portrait of boyhood and sexual awakening. Like Karl Ove Knausgaard or Edmund White, Édouard Louis writes from his own undisguised experience, but he writes with an openness and a compassionate intelligence that are all his own. The result—a critical and popular triumph—has made him the most celebrated French writer of his generation.

The Best Loved Villages of France


Stéphane Bern - 2014
    The Best Loved Villages of France brings the reader on a tour of forty-four of the country’s most treasured destinations. Always picturesque, but often well-kept secrets, the book offers insight into village life and local history. Take a tour of a crumbling medieval fortress with the mayor of Lavardin or peruse the maritime objects found at sea by a mustached fisherman in Saint-Suliac. Stroll along the coast of the Wissant bay windsurfer’s paradise or promenade through the manicured grounds of Vaux-le-Vicomte. Watch the sunrise over the fairy-tale castle in Montsoreau or enjoy a fresh langoustine dinner in Piana, Corsica. This book offers an illustrated tour around all twenty-two regions of France, from Provence and the Alps, to Normandy and the Loire. Aerial and intimate photographs invite the reader to explore these splendid locales, while the descriptions, anecdotes, and interviews with local village-dwellers plunge you into the individual history and character of France’s diverse regions. The villages featured in the book were selected in a popular vote by the French public and they represent an authentic journey into the heart of France.

Delicious days in Paris


Jane Paech - 2014
    Taste camembert, champagne, strawberry tarts, meringues, and macarons on Jane's 14 themed walks.

Saving Our Skins: Building a Vineyard Dream in France


Caro Feely - 2014
    gorgeous glitter with a high price tag. On a winter’s day it is beautiful, but on a spring day after bud burst it spells devastation. For Sean and Caro Feely, a couple whose love affair with wine and France has taken them through financial and physical struggle to create their organic vineyard, it could spell the end. Until they receive an unexpected call that could save their skins… This book is about life, love and taking risks, while transforming a piece of land into a flourishing vineyard and making a new life in France.

The Ashes of Heaven's Pillar


Kim Rendfeld - 2014
    Her beloved husband died in combat. Her faith lies shattered in the ashes of the Irminsul, the Pillar of Heaven. The relatives obligated to defend her and her family instead sell them into slavery. In Francia, Leova is resolved to protect her son and daughter, even if it means sacrificing her own honor. Her determination only grows stronger as Sunwynn blossoms into a beautiful young woman attracting the lust of a cruel master and Deorlaf becomes a headstrong man willing to brave starvation and demons to free his family. Yet Leova’s most difficult dilemma comes in the form of a Frankish friend, Hugh. He saves Deorlaf from a fanatical Saxon and is Sunwynn’s champion - but he is the warrior who slew Leova’s husband.Set against a backdrop of historic events, including the destruction of the Irminsul, "The Ashes of Heaven’s Pillar" explores faith, friendship, and justice—a tale described by reviewers as “transportive and triumphant,” “captivating,” and “compelling.”

In & Out of Paris: Gardens of Secret Delights


Zahid Sardar - 2014
    Also discover the Paris gardens of celebrated artist Jean-Michel Othoniel and art aficionado Pierre Bergé, architect Kenzō Takada’s Japanese retreat in the Bastille, Australian couturier Martin Grant’s tiny terrace in the Marais, Mexican painter MariCarmen Hernandez’s Montmartre rooftop, and American architect Michael Herrman’s homage to Le Corbusier’s surreal Champs Élysées garden for bon vivant Charles de Beistegui.Modern masters Louis Benech, Gilles Clement, Pascal Cribier, Christian Fournet, Camille Muller, HuguesPeuvergne, and Pierre-Alexandre Risser are also featured, representing a new era of experiments, color, and asymmetry in the Paris garden.

Insatiable: A Macabre History of France ~ L'Amour: Marie Antoinette


Ginger Myrick - 2014
    If you are looking for a straight retelling of Marie Antoinette’s story, DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK. In 1770, fourteen-year-old Austrian archduchess, Maria Antonia, left her homeland to marry the most sought after prince in Europe. Upon stepping into France she became Dauphine Marie Antoinette and assumed a fairytale life would follow. But being the Queen of France is not all masked balls, beautiful dresses, and extravagant living. There are horrifying and unnatural forces at work behind the scenes, a mysterious plague causing a sinister transformation in the residents of Paris. When Marie Antoinette learns the details, she is stunned to find out that France has kept the secret for over two hundred years, and now she will be burdened with one of her own. Determined to be the obedient daughter of the iron-willed Holy Roman Empress, she agrees to fulfill her commitment to the French Crown, until she unexpectedly falls for the handsome Swedish count, Axel von Fersen. Torn between her husband and her true love, her duty and her desire, Marie Antoinette longs for the day when she can be free to choose her path and follow her heart.

Tita


Marie Houzelle - 2014
    She has perfect parents. She puts on plays with her friends, spies on adults, challenges her teacher, and even manages to read forbidden books. She should be happy. But she dreams of a world without meals, and keeps worrying about her mother’s whereabouts, spoiling her own life for no reason at all. Tita wants to be good - but how?As her small town vibrates to age-old Latin rituals on the verge of slipping away, Tita finds refuge - and a liberation- in books.ADVANCE PRAISE FOR TITALike opening the door to a secret garden, TITA transports the reader straight into life in a small town in the south of France during the 1950s, as seen through the eyes of a precocious seven-year-old heroine not soon to be forgotten. Houzelle's prose is unfailingly deft and refreshing. This book is a delight! - Anne Korkeakivi, author of An Unexpected GuestMarie Houzelle is a master of the first-person narrative. In Tita she has created a strange, utterly original child whose deadpan certainties are a beguiling invitation to readers of all ages. Like Louise Fitzhugh's classic Harriet the Spy, the story is powered by a precocious and independent loner whose observations and reports are both charming and moving. Tita is a remarkable debut.- Katharine Weber, author of Triangle and True ConfectionsThe best book I read this year. Witty, wry, and clever, Tita s young voice captivated me from the first page. Tita poignantly portrays small-town life as well as the end of the Catholic church s grip on France, revealing cracks in society that a decade later become the riots of 1968. A rare novel written in English that gives a real taste of French culture. I cannot recommend it enough! - Janet Skeslien Charles, author of Moonlight in Odessa This book has a charm so unique and powerful, it pulls you in simply, effortlessly, like following a tree lined path on a summery day. The language is utterly original and quietly moving and very very funny and it makes you want to follow Tita onward past the last pages and into the years beyond. I loved it.-Nicola Keegan, author of Swimming

The Disunited States


Vladimir Pozner - 2014
    He found the nation and its people in a state of profound material and spiritual crisis, and took it upon himself to chronicle the life of the worker, the striker, the politician, the starlet, the gangster, the everyman; to document the bitter, violent racism tearing our society asunder, the overwhelming despair permeating everyday life, and the unyielding human struggle against all that. Pozner writes about America and Americans with the searing criticism and deep compassion of an outsider who loves the country and its people far too much to render anything less than a brutally honest portrayal. Recalling Agee’s Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, Pozner shatters the rules of reportage to create a complete enduring and profound portrait.

Loulou de la Falaise


Ariel De Ravenel - 2014
    Renowned for her bohemian chic, daring style as well as for her lightness, nonchalance, and humor, Loulou de la Falaise was not only an influential fashion icon but also a breath of fresh air to the world of Parisian haute couture. The Anglo-French beauty assisted the designer Halston and modeled briefly for Diana Vreeland’s Vogue before moving to Paris in 1972 to work alongside the iconic designer Yves Saint Laurent. A true original, her sense of color and fantasy and her attitude would energize the mythic house and fashion in general. For almost forty years, de la Falaise would forge her professional reputation designing extraordinary jewelry and accessories both for Yves Saint Laurent as well as for her own line. This elegant volume is a life in pictures, with over 400 images by legendary contemporary photographers, from Helmut Newton and Richard Avedon to Steven Meisel and Bettina Rheims, as well as an essay by Pierre Bergé and interviews with Loulou intimates such as Betty Catroux, Inès de la Fressange, Diane von Furstenberg, Christian Louboutin, Elsa Peretti, Paloma Picasso, André Leon Talley, and Oscar de la Renta. A celebrated style icon from the ’60s until her death, Loulou's appetite and flair for fashion continues to be an inspiration today.

The Paris Game: Charles de Gaulle, the Liberation of Paris, and the Gamble that Won France


Ray Argyle - 2014
    This is the setting of The Paris Game, a dramatic recounting of how an obscure French general under sentence of death by his government launches on the most enormous gamble of his life: to fight on alone after his country's capitulation to Nazi Germany. In a game of intrigue and double-dealing, Charles de Gaulle must struggle to retain the loyalty of Winston Churchill against the unforgiving opposition of Franklin Roosevelt and the traitorous manoeuvring of a collaborationist Vichy France. How he succeeds in restoring the honour of France and securing its place as a world power is the stuff of raw history, both stirring and engrossing.

The Rough Guide to Brittany and Normandy


Greg Ward - 2014
    Discover walks and cycle trails through ancient forests and along stunning coastline, and learn about the prehistoric peoples who erected the awe-inspiring megaliths of Carnac. There's detailed advice on where to find and enjoy superb food, from the seafood of Brittany to the cheese and cider of Normandy, with thorough restaurant reviews and accurate up-to-date prices. Whether you're looking for the best camping or the most stylish hotels, you can rely on accommodation suggestions for every budget and taste. You'll find practical advice on how to get around, from river cruises to SNCF trains, as well as the clearest colour maps of any guide. Authoritative accounts cover everything from the landscapes and wildlife to Brittany and Normandy's fascinating history and lively musical festivals.

Revolutionary Ideas: An Intellectual History of the French Revolution from The Rights of Man to Robespierre


Jonathan I. Israel - 2014
    Yet in recent decades scholars have argued that the Revolution was brought about by social forces, politics, economics, or culture--almost anything but abstract notions like liberty or equality. In Revolutionary Ideas, one of the world's leading historians of the Enlightenment restores the Revolution's intellectual history to its rightful central role. Drawing widely on primary sources, Jonathan Israel shows how the Revolution was set in motion by radical eighteenth-century doctrines, how these ideas divided revolutionary leaders into vehemently opposed ideological blocs, and how these clashes drove the turning points of the Revolution.Revolutionary Ideas demonstrates that the Revolution was really three different revolutions vying for supremacy--a conflict between constitutional monarchists such as Lafayette who advocated moderate Enlightenment ideas; democratic republicans allied to Tom Paine who fought for Radical Enlightenment ideas; and authoritarian populists, such as Robespierre, who violently rejected key Enlightenment ideas and should ultimately be seen as Counter-Enlightenment figures. The book tells how the fierce rivalry between these groups shaped the course of the Revolution, from the Declaration of Rights, through liberal monarchism and democratic republicanism, to the Terror and the Post-Thermidor reaction.In this compelling account, the French Revolution stands once again as a culmination of the emancipatory and democratic ideals of the Enlightenment. That it ended in the Terror represented a betrayal of those ideas--not their fulfillment.

Elsie de Wolfe's Paris


Charlie Scheips - 2014
    She had a legendary villa in Versailles, where in the late 1930s she held two fabulous parties—her Circus Balls—that marked the end of the social scene that her friend Cole Porter perfectly captured in his songs, as the clouds of war swept through Europe. Charlie Scheips tells the story of these glamorous parties using a wealth of previously unpublished photographs and introducing a large cast of aristocrats, beauties, politicians, fashion designers, movie stars, moguls, artists, caterers, florists, party planners, and decorators. A landmark work of social history and a poignant vision of a vanished world, Scheips’s book belongs on the shelf with Abrams’ classics such as Slim Aarons: Once Upon A Time and Tony Duquette.

The Paris Effect


Michelle Moggio - 2014
    She offers her clients a front row seat for their very own custom-tailored trip guaranteed to deliver a fun, life changing holiday. Follow Tooty, Susanne, Justine & Ruth as each gets a warm welcome and a Paris hug that only Mia can deliver. Tooty -- fitness fanatic, she doesn't want to gain an ounce in delicious Paris. Susanne - a slave to shopping, she can't escape the high demands of her 24/7 job and absent love life. Justine - helicopter mom to the core, she wants to escape her empty nest and distant husband. Ruth - a Parisian native, she has returned with a dark secret and bitter feelings toward the country of her birth. Mia - in love with her favorite city in the world, her mantra is THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS TOO MUCH PARIS. Chart the course of these uniquely diverse women as they explore the wonders of Paris. Taste it, feel it, love it. The Paris Effect will transport you. Note from author: The fictionalized character of Ruth is based, in part, on her own mother's experiences during WWII.

The Burning of Moscow: Napoleon's Trial by Fire 1812


Alexander Mikaberidze - 2014
    The fiery devastation had a profound effect on the Grand Army, but for thirty-five days Napoleon stayed, making increasingly desperate efforts to achieve peace with Russia. Then, in October, almost surrounded by the Russians and with winter fast approaching, he abandoned the capital and embarked on the long, bitter retreat that destroyed his army. The month-long stay in Moscow was a pivotal moment in the war of 1812 – the moment when the initiative swung towards the Tsar’s armies and spelled doom for the invading Grand Army – yet it has rarely been studied in the same depth as the other key events of the campaign.Alexander Mikaberidze, in this third volume of his in-depth reassessment of the war between the French and Russian empires, emphasizes the importance of the Moscow fire and shows how Russian intransigence sealed the fate of the French army. He uses a vast array of French, German, Polish and Russian memoirs, letters and diaries as well as archival material in order to tell the dramatic story of the Moscow fire. Not only does he provide a comprehensive account of events, looking at them from both the French and Russian points of view, but he explores the Russians’ motives for leaving, then burning their capital. Using extensive eyewitness accounts, he paints a vivid picture of the harsh reality of life in the remains of the occupied city and describes military operations around Moscow at this turning point in the campaign.

Boris Vian Invents Boris Vian


Boris Vian - 2014
    Edited and translated by Julia Older whose last book of Vian's prose (Blues for a Black Cat and Other Stories) was praised widely for capturing Vian's "gallows humor to verbal fireworks." This book continues Older's exploration of the world of Boris Vian and making many untranslated writings more widely available.

We That Are Left


Juliet Greenwood - 2014
    This English home front saga then becomes something more when she leaves for France herself to rescue a friend from danger.

Spy Summer


K.T. Blaine - 2014
    But that’s exactly what happens when a man is killed in front of her. Suddenly, her life is in danger and the people after her don’t care who they hurt in the process. To be safe, Ria leaves her group, but she has no place to go and no one to turn to. Enter a British boy who won’t leave her alone. Too bad Ria hates Brits.Evan has just graduated from a top spy school; he’s entitled to some vacay. He’s not going to get it. While enjoying the afternoon sunshine in Paris, he sees his former teacher, Marc, get murdered. Evan is determined to find the killers, but first he has to get a solid lead. His best bet? An American tourist. Reluctant partners, Ria and Evan travel from Paris to the south of France in search of answers. Danger and intrigue follow them; as the situation worsens, the pair confronts their personal demons as well as their growing feelings for each other. In the end, will all that they do be enough to bring Marc’s killers to justice? And will they be able to trust enough to open their hearts?

Brassai: For the Love of Paris


Brassaï - 2014
    Hungarian-born photographer Brassai dedicated more than fifty years of his artistic creation to capturing his adoptive city in all its facets. From winsome children playing in the public gardens to an amorous couple on an amusement park attraction, from opera and ballet stars to prostitutes and vagrants, and from cobblestone alleyways to ephemeral graffiti, his photographs embody the very essence of Paris. In an interview shortly before his death in 1984, he explained how Paris had served as an infinite source of inspiration and had reigned as the unifying theme that characterized each phrase of his artistic work.

Collected French Translations: Prose


John Ashbery - 2014
    This book, the companion volume to Collected French Translations: Poetry, presents his version of the classic French fairytale ‘The White Cat’ by Marie-Catherine d’Aulnoy, alongside works by innovative masters such as Raymond Roussel and Giorgio de Chirico. Here are Roussel’s Documents to Serve as an Outline and extracts from his Impressions of Africa; selections from Georges Bataille’s darkly erotic novella L’Abbé C; Antonin Artaud’s correspondence with Jacques Rivière; Salvador Dalí on Willem de Kooning; Jacques Dupin on Alberto Giacometti; and key theoretical texts by Odilon Redon and others.Several of these twenty-eight prose pieces, by seventeen writers, artists, musicians and critics, are previously unpublished or have been long unavailable. Many, such as Pierre Reverdy’s Haunted House, are modern classics. This book provides new insight into the range of French cultural influences on John Ashbery’s life and work in literature and the arts.

Jam Today Too: The Revolution Will Not Be Catered


Tod Davies - 2014
    . . In addition to some great meals made to satisfy desires, needs, whims or simply to make use of what’s at hand, Jam Today is a complete pleasure to read.” —DEBORAH MADISON, author of The New Vegetarian Cooking for EveryoneWarm, conversational, and exquisitely practical, Davies returns to the Jam Today series to share new recipes from her home kitchen—and stories about her experiences cooking for herself and her friends, family, and pets—during the best and worst of times. Whether she’s describing how she set up her kitchen in an RV after a flood, encouraging young feminists to try cooking a baked potato, adapting an M.F.K. Fisher recipe to create “the world’s simplest hollandaise sauce,” or singing the praises of her favorite local food purveyors, her infectious enthusiasm provides inspiration for everyone from trained chefs to those barely able to scramble an egg.Featuring advice for omnivores and vegetarians alike about how to eat (and what to prepare) to survive natural disasters, cross-country moves, bereavement, holidays-gone-wrong, and even a spontaneous picnic, Jam Today Too provides all the ingredients for daily feeding of mind, body, and soul.Tod Davies is the author of Snotty Saves the Day and Lily the Silent, both from The History of Arcadia series, and the cooking memoirs Jam Today: A Diary of Cooking With What You’ve Got and Jam Today Too: The Revolution Will Not Be Catered. Unsurprisingly, her attitude toward literature is the same as her attitude toward cooking—it’s all about working with what you have to find new ways of looking and new ways of being, and in doing so, to rediscover the best of our humanity. Davies lives with her husband and their two dogs, in the alpine valley of Colestin, Oregon, and at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, in Boulder, Colorado.

La Créole


Cheryl Sawyer - 2014
     Ayisha is a slave on Martinique, who serves the Master of the plantation. She is also known as Charlotte by the Master's sister, a woman who has whimsically taught her to read aloud in French. But there is nothing whimsical about the cruel, backbreaking life that Ayisha endures on the Caribbean island where fate seems to have imprisoned her forever. In 1755 this young and spirited woman rebels against her destiny and escapes with stolen gold. Against bitter odds, she makes her way to France. To avoid capture and prison, she must disguise her identity and her dangerous purpose - to revenge herself on the Master and free her people back on Martinique. As Charlotte de Novi, Italian aristocrat, she uses a hazardous ploy to penetrate the echelons of wealth and power, but before she can exact her vengeance, two noblemen find out her secret. One is her deadly enemy. The other, Guy de Richemont, is in love with her and desperate to save her. Perfectly capturing the essence of 18th century France, La Créole is an inspirational tale about the fight for freedom in a world that defies all change. Praise for Cheryl Sawyer ‘This is historical fiction writing at its very best. Astonishingly vivid.’ – Peter Jones New Zealander Cheryl Sawyer has two master's degrees, with honors in French and English literature, and her career has included teaching, publishing, and writing. She has traveled to all the countries where her novels are set, and currently lives in Sydney, Australia.

Something Old, Something New


James R. Vance - 2014
    Two young sisters discover war memorabilia hidden in their grandmother's trunk in an attic. They set out to trace their family history, an exploit that triggers devastating consequences.

Block 10


Stacy Childs - 2014
    He was an Olympic caliber skier with a bright future, when a freak accident ruined his knee and sent him into suicidal depression. A stranger, Dr. Henri de Salvo, gave him a reason to live, and a new set of "wings," thanks to an experimental medical treatment. With new focus, Luke turned to a career in medicine, a career that led him to accept an invitation to a secluded clinic in France where de Salvo continued his cutting edge - if morally questionable work. Lured by the chance to help other athletes recover their lives, intoxicated by a world of smooth cognac, beautiful women and dark intrigue, Luke finds himself drawn into another world. De Salvo has a shadowed past, and powerful enemies, and the French city of Toulon has it's dark side. Through amazing medical breakthroughs, run-ins with the Corsican mob, and clubs where men fight for big money - and women, he searches for his own path. The question is, will he survive the journey, and can he live up to the age old medical adage, "First, do no harm," while following the message of his own heart - "First, do something..." "Block 10 is an engrossing, intelligent medical thriller on par with the best of Robin Cook. I was hooked from the opening chapter and stayed up late turning the pages. Stacy Childs weaves weighty medical issues with heart pounding tension. I loved it!" -Robert Dugoni - Author of "The Jury Master"

The Statue of Liberty: The History and Legacy of America's Most Famous Statue


Charles River Editors - 2014
    A gift from the French that was built and transported in the late 19th century, the Statue of Liberty has been a symbol of the United States’ guaranty of individual freedom, and its location took on added meaning as it welcomed millions of immigrants sailing across the Atlantic to nearby Ellis Island. As one incoming Greek immigrant remembered, “I saw the Statue of Liberty. And I said to myself, ‘Lady, you're such a beautiful! [sic] You opened your arms and you get all the foreigners here. Give me a chance to prove that I am worth it, to do something, to be someone in America.’ And always that statue was on my mind." People around the world are instantly familiar with the statue today, whether from seeing pictures or depictions of it or actually visiting it and going inside, but the story of its construction is just as fascinating. Conceived as a monument that would commemorate the crucial alliance between America and France, the statue was a massive undertaking, from fundraising to the construction of the sculpture and a pedestal. The project took several years and a precarious transport of the statue’s pieces across the Atlantic to New York, where it was officially dedicated in 1886 and celebrated with a ticker tape parade. Even before that, the statue was so famous on both sides of the Atlantic that the head and torch had been displayed at various exhibits prior to the completion of the statue. Ironically, given the widespread fame of the Statue of Liberty, its history was turbulent and controversial. While those who conceived of the statue had a difficult time securing the funding, there were arguments over where the statue should go, and how everything from the pedestal to the statue itself should be built. In hindsight, it seems like a foregone conclusion that one of America’s most famous monuments would be completed, but it would actually take almost 15 years for the Statue of Liberty to be designed, constructed, and completed, and the lion’s share of the credit would go not to Americans but to dedicated French artists and engineers who pushed on with the work against major obstacles and heavy odds. The Statue of Liberty: The History and Legacy of America’s Most Famous Statue chronicles the design and construction of Lady Liberty. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the Statue of Liberty like never before, in no time at all.

Fortinbras: Mais qui a tué Hamlet?


Leonard Gaya - 2014
    Fortinbras, in Shakespeare, is an ambitious young man whose conquering armies walk across the background. By bringing the Norwegian plot to the foreground, this book shows us that what really happened at Elsinore is quite different from what Shakespeare has suggested so far.

Debussy


Eric Frederick Jensen - 2014
    With the rare ability to entice listeners on many levels, at its heart lies an engaging simplicity-one which defies traditional analysis and lends mystery to whatultimately is an extremely refined and highly personal approach to composition. Equally fascinating is Debussy's often contradictory personality--at times elusive, but always centered on his devotion to music and his ambition to create a name for himself unlike any other.Author Eric Frederick Jensen provides new insight to the man and the music in this authoritative biography. Although born into poverty, and a failure as a piano student at the Paris Conservatoire, Debussy became the most famous French composer of his day, known for his culture and refinement. Hisrevolutionary music baffled critics but was embraced by audiences. Debussy's scandalous personal life stirred up as much controversy as his music, and his notoriety proved more harmful to his career than the unusual nature of his compositions.Jensen also explores Debussy's relationship to the arts and his career as a music critic. Debussy drew on all of the arts in his development as a composer, including poetry and painting, and his fascination with the arts has often led to his being classified as an Impressionist or Symbolist, twoclaims which Jensen debunks. One of the finest music critics of his time, Debussy's reviews reveal a great deal not only about his musical taste, but also about what he felt the role and function of music should be.Debussy brings together the most recent biographical research, including a revised catalogue of Debussy's compositions and the first complete edition of his correspondence. With separate, chronological sections on his life and music, Debussy is accessible to the general reader who wishes to focus onhis life and personality, while providing detailed discussion of the music to musicians and students.

The Riddle of the Image: The Secret Science of Medieval Art


Spike Bucklow - 2014
    But how, in a world without the array of technology and access to materials that we now have, did artists produce such incredible works, often on an unbelievably large scale? In The Riddle of the Image, research scientist and art restorer Spike Bucklow discovers the actual materials and methods that lie behind the production of historical paintings.   Examining the science of the tools and resources, as well as the techniques of medieval artists, Bucklow adds new layers to our understanding and appreciation of paintings in particular and medieval art more generally. He uses case studies—including The Wilton Diptych, one of the most popular paintings in the National Gallery in London and the altarpiece in front of which English monarchs were crowned for centuries—and analyses of these works, presenting previously unpublished technical details that shed new light on the mysteries of medieval artists. The first account to examine this subject in depth for a general audience, The Riddle of the Image is a beautifully illustrated look at the production of medieval paintings.

Disruptive Elements: The Extremes of French Anarchism


Various - 2014
    Much of the material presented here was translated specifically for this book, and offers up a lost thread from the fabric of history, one we find particularly vibrant. The editors do not presume to provide a monolithic, complete, or definitive story about French anarchist individualism, nor do we propose answers, conclusions, or closure on any of the ideas presented. We sought out the writings of many of the major figures of the milieu, chose those that most compelled us, and collected them here. So, a few important people have been left out. Rirette Maitrejean makes no appearance for example (she took over publication of L'Anarchie after Libertad's death and merits our attention).We have set out to do a number of things in publishing this material. First, to provide insight on the lives of forgotten anarchists through their own writings. Far too little is known about many of the authors herein, despite the strength of their ideas, their prolific publishing accomplishments, and the mutual interest they share with many anarchists today (i.e., a strong affinity to the ideas of Max Stirner, a deep disdain for the Left, constantly developing theories on anarchist association, and an unflinching critique of authority paired with the insistence that putting an end to an old one should never mean submission to a new one). Though they played an early and prominent role in developing and propagating anarchist thought and action, their lives and writings have gone unknown or under-acknowledged for too long. Many of them led vibrant and inspiring lives as illegalists, propagandists, deserters, travelers and staunch individualists.

Three German Invasions of France: The Summer Campaigns of 1870, 1914 and 1940


Douglas Fermer - 2014
    Three times that hostility led to war and the invasion of France - in 1870, 1914 and 1940. The outcomes of the battles that followed reset the balance of power across the continent. Yet the German invasions tend to be viewed as separate events, in isolation, rather than as connected episodes in the confrontation between the two nations. Douglas Fermer s fresh account of the military campaigns and the preparations for them treats them as part of a cycle of fear, suspicion, animosity and conflicting ambitions extending across several generations. In a clear, concise account of the decisive opening phase of each campaign, he describes the critical decision-making, the maneuvers and clashes of arms in eastern France as German forces advanced westwards. As the 100th anniversary of the start of the Great War approaches, this is a fitting moment to reconsider these momentous events and how they fit into the broad sweep of European history.REVIEWS Three German Invasions of France is excellent book for anyone who knows little about these campaigns, this can also be read with profit by the seasoned of the subject.Strategy Page"

Leg Over Leg: Volume Four


Ahmad Faris al-Shidyaq - 2014
    The always edifying and often hilarious adventures of the Fariyaq, as he moves from his native Lebanon to Egypt, Malta, Tunis, England and France, provide the author with grist for wide-ranging discussions of the intellectual and social issues of his time, including the ignorance and corruption of the Lebanese religious and secular establishments, freedom of conscience, women’s rights, sexual relationships between men and women, the manners and customs of Europeans and Middle Easterners, and the differences between contemporary European and Arabic literatures. Al-Shidyaq also celebrates the genius and beauty of the classical Arabic language. Akin to Sterne and Rabelais in his satirical outlook and technical inventiveness, al-Shidyaq produced in Leg Over Leg a work that is unique and unclassifiable. It was initially widely condemned for its attacks on authority, its religious skepticism, and its “obscenity,” and later editions were often abridged. This is the first English translation of the work and reproduces the original Arabic text, published under the author’s supervision in 1855.Humphrey Davies is an award-winning translator of Arabic literature from the Ottoman period to the present. Writers he has translated include Elias Khoury, Naguib Mahfouz, Alaa Al Aswany, Bahaa Taher, Mourid Barghouti, Muhammad Mustagab, Gamal al-Ghitani, Hamdy el-Gazzar, Khaled Al-Berry, and Ahmed Alaidy, as well as Ahmad Faris al-Shidyaq and Yusuf al-Shirbini for the Library of Arabic Literature. He has also authored, with Madiha Doss, an anthology of writings in Egyptian colloquial Arabic. He lives in Cairo.

Germaine Dulac: A Cinema of Sensations


Tami Williams - 2014
    Through her filmmaking, writing, and cine-club activism, Dulac’s passionate defense of the cinema as a lyrical art and social practice had a major influence on twentieth century film history and theory.In Germaine Dulac: A Cinema of Sensations, Tami Williams makes unprecedented use of the filmmaker's personal papers, production files, and archival film prints to produce the first full-length historical study and critical biography of Dulac. Williams's analysis explores the artistic and sociopolitical currents that shaped Dulac's approach to cinema while interrogating the ground breaking techniques and strategies she used to critique conservative notions of gender and sexuality. Moving beyond the director’s work of the 1920s, Williams examines Dulac's largely ignored 1930s documentaries and newsreels establishing clear links with the more experimental impressionist and abstract works of her early period.This vivid portrait will be of interest to general readers, as well as to scholars of cinema and visual culture, performance, French history, women’s studies, queer cinema, in addition to studies of narrative avant-garde, experimental, and documentary film history and theory.

Openwork: Poetry and Prose


André du Bouchet - 2014
    This inviting volume sets out to remedy the oversight, introducing a selection of du Bouchet’s poetry and prose to English-language readers through the brilliant translations of Paul Auster and Hoyt Rogers. Openwork showcases pieces from the author’s entire trajectory, beginning with little-known pieces from the 1950s, followed by major poems from the 1960s, and concluding with works written or rewritten in the poet’s later decades.   Throughout his life, du Bouchet devoted himself to long walks in his beloved French countryside, jotting down entries in notebooks as he rambled. These notebooks—more than one hundred all together—have emerged as signal works in their own right, and their musings are well represented in this anthology.

My Paris Story: Living, Loving, and Leaping Without a Net in the City of Light


Yulin LeeSonia Hadjadj - 2014
    Now the time has come to read the real stories from real women who took the leap to transform their lives in the most dreamed about city in the world.My Paris Story is the much-anticipated anthology that combines the stories of twenty-two authors from around the globe who have made their dreams come true. It is the result of harnessing the extraordinary creative energy of an exuberant, passionate, and motivated group of women who actually did pick up everything and take the leap to follow their hearts' desires in the City of Light.Transforming their lives with real purpose, lofty goals, and a good dose of dreams, each author shares her secrets, challenges, exhilarations, disappointments, and victories of living, loving, raising a family, starting a business, and succeeding as an entrepreneur and businesswoman in the mythical city of Paris.www.myparisstory-thebook.com

The Heart of the Conqueror


Gemma Lawrence - 2014
    The author of that battle was William, bastard Duke of Normany, the man they eventually came to call the Conqueror. But the Heart of the Conqueror was Matilda, beauty of Flanders and wife of William. Through the eyes of one of the most extraordinary women of history unfold the events of the invasion of England...this is the story of Matilda, Lady of Flanders, Duchess of Normandy and Queen of England.

French Roots: Two Cooks, Two Countries, and the Beautiful Food along the Way


Jean-Pierre Moulle - 2014
    French Roots is the story of their lives told through the food they cook—beginning with the dishes of old-world France, the couple’s birthplace, and focusing on the simple, pared-down preparations of French food common in the postwar period. The story then travels to the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1970s, where Jean-Pierre was appointed executive chef at Chez Panisse when California cuisine was just emerging as a distinctive and important style, and where Denise began importing French wine. Finally, the journey follows the couple to their homes in Sonoma, California, and Bordeaux to revisit the classic dishes of the Moullés’ native country and hone the forgotten skills of foraging, hunting, and preserving. Exquisitely written, with recipes that are innovative and timeless, insights on cooking and thinking like a chef, and an insider’s guide to the wines of Bordeaux, French Roots is much more than a cookbook—it’s a guide to living the good life.From the Hardcover edition.

The Old Front Line: The Centenary of the Western Front in Pictures


Stephen Bull - 2014
    The anguish and privations are a bit further away, but there is still huge interest in the awful conditions and carnage endured by a generation of youth who sacrificed their lives for their country. The Old Front Line is a phrase first coined by the poet John Masefield when he looked back on the battle of the Somme from a distance of just one year, in 1917, and speculated how the Western Front might look in the future. Stephen Bull s copiously illustrated work part travel guide, part popular history a century on, answers his speculations. The main source material is new and contemporary photographs, as well as some from the intervening century. Taken together these provide a series of exciting vistas and informative details that tell the story of the battles and landscapes. Aerial photography, old and new ground shots and in a few cases even images taken underground provide an authoritative summary of the war on the Western Front. Following an introduction that sets the scene and looks at the early stages of the war, eight chapters examine the Western Front geographically, looking closely at the main areas of fighting and what is visible today: not just the iron harvest the scars left by trench and battle but also the cemeteries, war memorials and statues that remind the visitor starkly of the loss of a generation.REVIEWS " magnificent looks not only at the "iron harvest" but also at the scars of battle, preserved trenches and dugouts, and cemeteries and memorials, all of which remind the visitor of the carnage of four years of industrial warfare narrative takes the reader through these four years providing details necessary to compliment the photos and expand the readers understanding.World War I Historical Association..".makes the reader pause to consider how sites that once witnessed so much death and destruction have become so beautiful today"Journal of America's Military Past"

Vicki's Work of Heart


Rosie Dean - 2014
    It’s her time. Nobody is going to get in the way of her ambition – definitely not a man. Vicki learns two things: some men are difficult to resist, and choosing the right one is not always easy.

On Rue Tatin: The Simple Pleasures of Life in a Small French Town


Susan Loomis - 2014
    Dilapidated, rambling, crumbling walls which were covered with faded paper, it had been a convent. So Susan, her husband, luckily a sculptor and builder, and small son, moved in – to spend a year and more, rebuilding, finding new hidden treasures of their house, and discovering their neighbours, and the life of a small French town.Some of the great pleasures of the book come from sharing in Susan Loomis’ daily journeys: to the market, to the butcher and the baker, talking to the shop keepers and the teachers at the school, and meeting the clergy who tramp through their garden. As her son joins the local school, as Susan’s cookery work gets underway, so the reader is part of all the human – and gastronomic – experiences that shape this very French town.

French Regional Food


Loic Bienassis - 2014
    Featuring more than 250 recipes and products, the book is divided into 27 chapters each corresponding to a distinctive regional cuisine. A culinary exploration of the French terroirs, landscapes, atmospheres and traditions, as well as iconic ingredients, traditional dishes and emblematic recipes.

Paris in Love


Nichole Robertson - 2014
    A love letter in rouge to the City of Light, Paris in Love is the perfect valentine for anyone who adores Paris!

The Assassination of Europe, 1918-1942: A Political History


Howard M. Sachar - 2014
    Sachar relates the tragedy of twentieth-century Europe through an innovative, riveting account of the continent's political assassinations between 1918 and 1939 and beyond. By tracing the violent deaths of key public figures during an exceptionally fraught time period--the aftermath of World War I--Sachar lays bare a much larger history: the gradual moral and political demise of European civilization and its descent into World War II.In his famously arresting prose, Sachar traces the assassinations of Rosa Luxemburg, Kurt Eisner, Matthias Erzberger, and Walther Rathenau in Germany--a lethal chain reaction that contributed to the Weimar Republic's eventual collapse and Hitler's rise to power. Sachar's exploration of political fragility in Italy, Austria, the successor states of Eastern Europe, and France completes a mordant yet intriguing exposure of the Old World's lethal vulnerability. The final chapter, which chronicles the deaths of Stefan and Lotte Zweig, serves as a thought-provoking metaphor for the assassination of the Old World itself.

"Love Is Nothing But the Fruit of a Long Moment": A Paris Memoir


William Prendiville - 2014
    "You get all kinds coming to Paris: the rich, the poor, the curious, the exiled, the hopeless, those who don't really feel at home anywhere else, be it from failure, disappointment, crime or culture, and those who come, stay awhile, reap the city's most obvious benefits, and leave. These last are the unfortunate ones. Those who stay longer, for whatever reason, heartbreak, poverty, love, indolence or apathy, would eventually, I hope, live to see the beauty of the city as it is, and not as it is preconceived. You can buy a good French meal in any major metropolis nowadays, and, from what I've seen, one luxury hotel is much like the next. What makes Paris Paris is the canal, the Seine, its parks (like individually cut diamonds), the late-night brasseries, the all-night bars, the early-morning Arab cafes where men gather for a smoke and a drink, then another smoke and maybe another drink before heading off to work; the churches that seem to bloom everywhere, in back alleys, over railways, behind apartment complexes, like something ineluctable and irrepressible in the soil itself and that once helped form and flavor a particularly French feeling towards the world. It's found as much there as in a Poussin, David or Manet, or a piece by Saint-Saens, Debussy, or Messiaen, or a song by Piaf, Gainsbourg or Brel. It's the soul of Paris and no guidebook I know of has ever brought me anywhere closer to understanding it." "William Prendiville's Paris will have readers who don't know the city wanting to live there, and will have those who know it longing to return. These are memoirs which catch the rhythm of people who live hand-to-mouth, day-to-day, until they come to think of Paris as the place they can never leave." Allan Massie